“Unless the mass retains sufficient control over those entrusted with the powers of their government, these will be perverted to their own oppression, and to the perpetuation of wealth and power in the individuals and their families selected for the trust.” (Thomas Jefferson). Clearly, the Founders did not trust elected representatives not to abuse their office to pursue their personal wealth and repeated reelection. But the People have ignored our Founders’ wisdom.

The U.S., not so long ago clearly the world leader, has fallen to 21st amongst nations, and is classified today as a flawed democracy. Among many analyses, a 10-min. video and a Senator’s eBook “Captured” explain what has gone wrong. Neither the Peoples’ Congressional choice from mostly preselected and bought candidates, nor choice of Party, nor choice of President, can reverse Oligarchs’ relentless capture of Congress, and with consent of the Senate, the Supreme Court. (“[You have] A Republic … if you can keep it.” (Benjamin Franklin).

One apparent solution is for the People to demand that Congress convene a Citizens’ Assembly to reinstall trust in the political process allowing citizens’ decision-making input on issues of great national importance. For example, Citizens’ Assemblies have been used in Canada and the Netherlands to recommend revision of the election systems, and in Ireland to consider issues of population ageing, etc. These are worthy efforts, but narrowly focused under Government prerogative, and therefore attractive only as a first step.

Our Founders anticipated today’s problem and included a far more powerful Constitutional solution. “We may safely rely on the disposition of the State legislatures to erect barriers against the encroachments of the national authority.” (Alexander Hamilton). The People have the power and the constitutional obligation to compel each State to take the necessary action. “Of the people, by the people, for the people” are not just pretty words, they are very real duties of every American citizen to defend their freedom, most critically against Oligarchic failing Government.

To constrain Oligarchy now and for the future, the People through their States must permit U.S. Initiatives on Federal election ballots under the U.S. Constitution, while retaining a republican form of Government. This can and must be accomplished without any support from a Congress beholden to Oligarchs, too corrupt, and untrustworthy.

“The basis of our political systems is the right of the people to make and to alter their constitutions of government.” (George Washington, 1796). “All power is originally in the People and should be exercised by them in person, if that could be done with convenience, or even with little difficulty.” (James Wilson).

Today, Oligarchs can damage our Democracy far faster than the People can repair it. For example, Oligarchs and friends implemented Citizens United in 2010; but over 8 years later, even the most aggressive responses from the People are still in the early stages. However, once implemented, this single Initiatives Amendment enables consideration and prompt remedy of important and urgent issues within a few years after they arise, greatly reducing effort, cost, and dissention.

Our Founders in their wisdom gave us a path to a Constitutional solution. But to date, we as a nation have not shown the courage and patriotism to follow our Founders’ wisdom and the leadership of our 24 initiative States. “As the people are the only legitimate fountain of power, and it is from them that the constitutional charter, under which the several branches of government hold their power, is derived, it seems strictly consonant to the republican theory to recur to the same original authority [the People]… whenever it may be necessary to enlarge, diminish, or new-model the powers of government.” (James Madison)

Without U.S. Initiative power, the People procrastinate and gamble that the Oligarchs and Congress will benignly reform themselves; but history predicts this is a futile hope – entrenched international Oligarchy and more dictatorships are likely. By trying the Initiatives solution for a few years, with the built-in ability of the People to adjust, improve, or abort the solution, at a total cost less than building one big warship, the U.S. will regain its democratic republic and world leadership in democracy. By ignoring it, the People will have only themselves to blame as they and their children lose their rights, freedoms, and security.

“Unless the mass retains sufficient control over those entrusted with the powers of their government, these will be perverted to their own oppression, and to the perpetuation of wealth and power in the individuals and their families selected for the trust.” (Thomas Jefferson). Clearly, the Founders did not trust elected representatives not to abuse their office to pursue their personal wealth and repeated reelection. But the People have ignored our Founders’ wisdom.

The U.S., not so long ago clearly the world leader, has fallen to 21st amongst nations, and is classified today as a flawed democracy. Among many analyses, a 10-min. video and a Senator’s eBook “Captured” explain what has gone wrong. Neither the Peoples’ Congressional choice from mostly preselected and bought candidates, nor choice of Party, nor choice of President, can reverse Oligarchs’ relentless capture of Congress, and with consent of the Senate, the Supreme Court. (“[You have] A Republic … if you can keep it.” (Benjamin Franklin).

One apparent solution is for the People to demand that Congress convene a Citizens’ Assembly to reinstall trust in the political process allowing citizens’ decision-making input on issues of great national importance. For example, Citizens’ Assemblies have been used in Canada and the Netherlands to recommend revision of the election systems, and in Ireland to consider issues of population ageing, etc. These are worthy efforts, but narrowly focused under Government prerogative, and therefore attractive only as a first step.

Our Founders anticipated today’s problem and included a far more powerful Constitutional solution. “We may safely rely on the disposition of the State legislatures to erect barriers against the encroachments of the national authority.” (Alexander Hamilton). The People have the power and the constitutional obligation to compel each State to take the necessary action. “Of the people, by the people, for the people” are not just pretty words, they are very real duties of every American citizen to defend their freedom, most critically against Oligarchic failing Government.

To constrain Oligarchy now and for the future, the People through their States must permit U.S. Initiatives on Federal election ballots under the U.S. Constitution, while retaining a republican form of Government. This can and must be accomplished without any support from a Congress beholden to Oligarchs, too corrupt, and untrustworthy.

“The basis of our political systems is the right of the people to make and to alter their constitutions of government.” (George Washington, 1796). “All power is originally in the People and should be exercised by them in person, if that could be done with convenience, or even with little difficulty.” (James Wilson).

Today, Oligarchs can damage our Democracy far faster than the People can repair it. For example, Oligarchs and friends implemented Citizens United in 2010; but over 8 years later, even the most aggressive responses from the People are still in the early stages. However, once implemented, this single Initiatives Amendment enables consideration and prompt remedy of important and urgent issues within a few years after they arise, greatly reducing effort, cost, and dissention.

Our Founders in their wisdom gave us a path to a Constitutional solution. But to date, we as a nation have not shown the courage and patriotism to follow our Founders’ wisdom and the leadership of our 24 initiative States. “As the people are the only legitimate fountain of power, and it is from them that the constitutional charter, under which the several branches of government hold their power, is derived, it seems strictly consonant to the republican theory to recur to the same original authority [the People]… whenever it may be necessary to enlarge, diminish, or new-model the powers of government.” (James Madison)

Without U.S. Initiative power, the People procrastinate and gamble that the Oligarchs and Congress will benignly reform themselves; but history predicts this is a futile hope – entrenched international Oligarchy and more dictatorships are likely. By trying the Initiatives solution for a few years, with the built-in ability of the People to adjust, improve, or abort the solution, at a total cost less than building one big warship, the U.S. will regain its democratic republic and world leadership in democracy. By ignoring it, the People will have only themselves to blame as they and their children lose their rights, freedoms, and security.

Problem has Deteriorated Past Government’s Ability to Remedy

The Founders expected frequent problems requiring amendments, in their lifetime producing the first 12 amendments in 16 years, a rate of one every 16 months. Since then, Congress has produced only 15 amendments (some trivial, one reversed) in 194 years, a rate of one every 13 years. U.S. abolition of slavery took a civil war to ratify; women’s vote took 72 years to ratify.Contrary to the Founders’ intentions, Congress clearly finds responsibility for Constitutional Amendments to be a most inconvenient and undesirable burden. Consequently, in many cases, Congress has laxly deferred to the Supreme Court to produce legal decisions that are equivalent to Constitutional Amendments, e.g., Citizens United v. FEC, Roe v. Wade, Miranda v. Arizona, McCutcheon v. FEC, etc. Modification or reversal of such decisions generally requires a Constitutional Amendment because it is nearly impossible for the Supreme Court to justify the action with legal precedent. (more…)

Solution was Anticipated by, and Desirable to the Founders, but Infeasible at that Time

“[A legislature] … should be an exact portrait, in miniature, of the people at large, as it should feel, reason and act like them” (John Adams, 1776)

“The People were, in fact, the fountain of all power, and by resorting to them, all difficulties were got over. They could alter constitutions as they pleased.” (James Madison, 1787)

“The basis of our political systems is the right of the people to make and to alter their constitutions of government.” (George Washington, 1796)

It all depends on who you trust for critical decisions by your Government:

Campaign for Amendment Proposed by Congress or by Limited Convention

“…the persons delegated to the administration of the national government will always be disinclined to yield up any portion of the authority of which they were once possessed.” (Alexander Hamilton, 1788)

“The words of this article [V] are peremptory. The Congress “shall call a convention.” Nothing in this particular is left to the discretion of that body. And of consequence, all the declamation about the disinclination to a change vanishes in air.…” (Alexander Hamilton, 1788)

It is recognized that the Initiatives Amendment presented on this website is an early draft that requires substantial expert review and revision before the campaign to submit it to the States, and then limited to a few pioneering States so State feedback can be incorporated. It is possible that other organizations will assist or form a coalition to include CUSDI Inc. since the magnitude of the task is far beyond the capabilities of an ordinary nonprofit corporation. (more…)

Benefits from Initiatives Amendment Solution

The Benefits are that this single Initiatives Amendment authorizes Direct U.S. Initiatives by the People that can provide legislative and constitutional Solutions to numerous Problems that Congress cannot or will not solve.

About 20 examples of benefits for major issues that Initiatives may solve, and which Congress cannot or will not solve, are shown below. Under today’s Constitution it would take over 200 years to deal with these issues; after the amendment, it will take only a few years to start serious debate and potential resolution of many these and other major issues: (more…)